The Ottawa Public Library has 33 branches and nearly 4,000 individual books, movies and tapes available in Arabic. Membership is free with proof of address and includes free wifi, use of computers and printers, video and audio equipment, loans of passes to museums, etc. For a full description of OPL offerings, see OPL overview

In My Neighbourhood An interactive map showing the location of many community services. It includes schools, libraries, cultural centres, parks, recreational facilities, social services, emergency services hospitals and other.

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization – webpage on education, including document and immunization requirements, age requirements for attending school, links for the four local school boards, a description of public education system, list of adult high schools and English/French language schools and the postsecondary schools in the region.

Helping with Furniture (HWF) – Volunteer-run charitable organization that delivers gently used furniture and household items to people restarting their lives in Ottawa after fleeing situations of hardship.

Salvation Army – Offers low-cost furnishings and clothing to all at low prices.

Various health service partners who have set up primary care hubs in Ottawa to serve the large influx of Syrian refugees. These hubs will serve as primary care locations for PSRs, as well as GARs, where initial medical assessments and screenings will take place. To obtain an appointment at one of the hubs, call Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre at 613-691-0192. The following information will be requested in order to schedule appointments:

– Name and date of birth of all PSRs

– Permanent address and phone number of PSRs (if available)

– Language(s) of the PSRs

– List of any health concerns

– Whether or not an on-going primary health care provider has been arranged
The PCHs will be responsible for initial assessments and screenings and starting the immunization process for all clients. Some PCHs will be able to accept PSRs as on-going clients of their centre. However, if hubs have reached capacity and cannot accept more new clients, refugees will need to arrange for on-going primary care provider elsewhere in the community. ONHC will support clients, sponsors, and service providers find on-going primary care providers for refugees. PCHs will maintain medical records and will arrange for file transfer, if and when appropriate.

Need someone to talk to? The “Walk-In Counselling Clinic” offers services in Arabic Thursdays from 11:00 – 5:00, at OCISO, 959 Wellington Street West. The walk-in sessions are free to all members of the community, with no restrictions based on age or location/address and no need for an appointment. For a description of services go tohttp://walkincounselling.com/

In My Language – Provides multilingual information for newcomer(s) in Ontario, including information about immigration, housing, work, health, education, legal matters and daily life in 11 different languages. Arabic* is one of the languages used.

ELTOC provides ESL tutoring services to newcomers (permanent residents and refugees) who are unable to attend regular ESL classes offered in the community. Click www.eltoc.ca/ for more information

Learning English – Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC). This ESL program provides basic English language instruction to eligible adult newcomers (immigrants and those to whom Canada intends to grant permanent resident status) to facilitate their social, cultural and economic integration into society. Language classes are also available in French.